Fringe Chelsea midfielder wanted by European giants

Galatasaray and AC Milan want to sign Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien on loan, according to the Mirror.

The Blues midfielder is set to fall further down the Stamford Bridge pecking order after the club completed the £21million signing of Nemanja Matic.

But Mourinho may resist loaning out the midfielder to the Turkish club, who Chelsea face in the last 16 of the Champions League, and AC Milan, who could be opponents in the competition should they both qualify for the quarter-finals.

The 31-year-old will be desperate for first team action in order to get some form ahead of the World Cup, and could push for a move away from Stamford Bridge this month.

Essien has worked with Mourinho before ‘the special one’s’ return to Chelsea, spending the year on loan at Real Madrid also under his guidance. But the Ghanaian could use his strong relationship with the Portuguese boss to persuade him to grant a winter move, with the World Cup just months away.

Napoli have also been linked with the Ghanaian, with Rafa Benitez reportedly interested in working with the midfielder, who he came up against him on numerous occasions when manager of Liverpool.

It is however believed that Chelsea don’t want to let Essien leave the Bridge this month.